APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROL OF PRESENTATION OF MEDIA TO USERS OF A VEHICLE

• US 20130096771A1
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Srenger, Ed
• Application Number:
  US13/271,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096771A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/148 Input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/193 for improving awareness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/739 the user being the passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/04 Vehicle stop
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/21 Voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A vehicle includes or is provided with a vehicular service. One or more communications are received from one or more occupants of a vehicle. The identity of the one or more occupants that made the communications is determined. It is also determined whether the vehicle is moving. When the occupant is identified as a driver and when the vehicle is moving, the driver is prevented from using the vehicular service when interaction with the vehicular service would result in driver distraction. When the occupant is identified as a non-driver and when the vehicle is moving, the non-driver is allowed to utilize the vehicular service.

Claims

1. A method of preventing driver distraction in a vehicle, the vehicle providing a vehicular service, the method comprising:

receiving at least one communication from at least one occupant in a vehicle;

determining the identity of the at least one occupant that made the at least one communication;

determining whether the vehicle is moving;

when the at least one occupant is identified as a driver, the vehicle is moving, and when the communication could result in driver distraction, preventing the driver from using the vehicular service;

when the at least one occupant is identified as a non-driver and the vehicle is moving, allowing the non-driver to utilize the vehicular service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving at least one communication comprises receiving voice signals from a plurality of microphones and wherein determining the identity of the at least one occupant comprises determining the identity based at least in part on the origination of the voice signals.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving at least one communication comprises receiving voice signals from a plurality of microphones and wherein determining the identity of the at least one occupant comprises using a speaker identification approach and using a voice recognition approach to determine the content of the voice signals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein allowing the user to utilize the vehicular service comprises presenting information to the non-driver on a display.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicular service is a service selected from the group consisting of:

a voice communication service;

a navigation system service;

an information display service; and

a media selection service.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

when the at least one occupant is identified as a driver and the vehicle is not moving, allowing the driver to use the vehicular service.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising subsequently determining that the vehicle is again moving and when the at least one occupant is identified as a driver, the vehicle is again moving, and when the communication could result in driver distraction, preventing the driver from using the vehicular service.

8. A method of preventing driver distraction in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a voice command from a user of a vehicle;

determining whether the received voice command requires a distracting interaction of the user, the interaction being a complex physical response of the user;

determining whether the vehicle is moving;

analyzing the voice command to determine whether the user associated with the voice command is a driver of the vehicle;

when the vehicle is moving, the execution of the voice command would result in user distraction, and the user is the driver, disabling execution of the voice command;

when the vehicle is moving, execution of the voice command would result in user distraction, and the user is not the driver;

allowing execution of the voice command.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein analyzing the voice command comprises determining an identity of the user based at least in part on a signal origination of the voice command.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein analyzing the voice command comprises determining an identity of the user based at least in part by using a speaker identification approach to analyze the voice command.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the execution of the voice command requires use of a service, the service selected from the group consisting of:

a voice communication service;

a navigation system service;

an information display service; and

a media selection service.

12. An apparatus of preventing driver distraction in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an interface with an input and an output, the input configured to receive at least one communication from at least one occupant in a vehicle and a signal indicative of whether the vehicle is moving, the output coupled to a vehicular service module;

a controller, the controller coupled to the interface, the controller configured to determine the identity of the at least one occupant that made the at least one communication and determine whether the vehicle is moving based upon the signal, the controller being further configured to when the at least one occupant is identified as a driver, the vehicle is moving, and when the communication could result in driver distraction, send a first signal to the vehicular services module via the output that is effective to prevent the driver from using the vehicular service module, the controller further configured to when the at least one occupant is identified as a non-driver and the vehicle is moving, send a second signal to the vehicular services module via the output that is effective to allow the non-driver to utilize the vehicular service module.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to determine the identity of the at least one occupant from voice signals received from a plurality of microphones and determine the identity based at least in part on the strength of the voice signals.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to determine the identity of the at least one occupant from voice signals received from a plurality of microphones and use a speaker identification approach to determine the identity of the voice signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the vehicular service module provides a service selected from the group consisting of:

a voice communication service;

a navigation system service;

an information display service; and

a media selection service.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to when the at least one occupant is identified as a driver and the vehicle is not moving, send a third signal to the vehicular services module via the output that is effective to allow the driver to use the vehicular service module.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to subsequently determine that the vehicle is again moving and when the at least one occupant is identified as a driver and the vehicle is again moving, send a fourth signal to the vehicular services module via the output that is effective to prevent the driver from using the vehicular service module.